OHL Decade at the World Juniors: Slovakia

Playing in a talented Group A alongside Canada, Finland, Germany and Switzerland, the Slovaks will have their work cut out for them at the 2021 World Juniors, but they’ve proven in the past to be a team worth taking seriously as evidenced by their bronze medal finish in 2015.

Los Angeles Kings fifth round pick Martin Chromiak of the Kingston Frontenacs will play a pivotal role up front for his country. Chromiak put up 33 points (11-22–33) in 28 games with Kingston in the second half of the 2019-20 season and has spent the 2020-21 campaign playing in Slovakia’s top circuit. He’ll have a chance to play alongside returning Slovakian National Junior Team forward Dominik Jendek, a 2020-21 commit to the Sudbury Wolves. Also worth keeping an eye on is former first overall CHL Import Draft choice and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Maxim Cajkovic of the Saint John Sea Dogs.

On the back end, Oshawa Generals commit David Mudrak returns to the Slovakian squad after participating in last year’s event in the Czech Republic. The Slovakian blue line will be anchored by Columbus Blue Jackets third round pick Samuel Knazko in front of third-time World Junior representative Samuel Hlavaj of the Sherbrooke Phoenix in the crease.

Here’s a look at the OHL’s Slovakian World Junior footprint over the past decade:

OHL Decade at the World Juniors – Slovakia

2020, Ostrava & Trinec (8th): F Dominik Jendek (Sudbury Wolves)*, D David Mudrak (Oshawa Generals)*

2019 , Vancouver (8th): F Adam Ruzicka (Sarnia Sting)

2018, Buffalo (7th): F Adam Ruzicka (Sarnia Sting), Marian Studenic (Hamilton Bulldogs)

2017, Montreal & Toronto (8th): D Erik Cernak (Erie Otters), F Adam Ruzicka (Sarnia Sting), Marian Studenic (Hamilton Bulldogs)

2016, Helsinki (7th): D Erik Cernak (Erie Otters), D Adrian Sloboda (Ottawa 67’s)*

2015, Toronto & Montreal (BRONZE): D Erik Cernak*, F Matej Paulovic (Peterborough Petes)*

2014, Malmo (8th): D Erik Cernak*

2013, Ufa (8th): D Peter Ceresnak (Peterborough Petes), F Richard Mraz (Ottawa 67’s)

2012, Calgary & Edmonton (6th): D Michal Cajkovsky (Ottawa 67’s), D Peter Ceresnak (Peterborough Petes), F Richard Mraz*

2011, Buffalo (8th): D Peter Ceresnak*, F Richard Panik (Guelph Storm), F Miroslav Preisinger (Sarnia Sting)*

*- denotes a year before or after the player competed in the OHL